Fluid cylinder with circuit closer



Nov. 4, 1958 F R, NEU 2,859,296

FLUID CYLINDER WITH CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Nov. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet lrllll.

INVENTOR FRANKLYN R. NEU

ATTORNEY NOV. 4, 1958 F, R NEU 2,859,296

FLUID CYLINDER WITH CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Nov. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2im 7o Fl G.- 6

INTERMITTENT ROTARY SINGLE REVOLUTION MoT|oN (INDEXING) UNH. SHAFT FRoMAIR SUPPLY FIG. 7

cxH ExH. 697

23 LOWER Il? 27 33 UPPER ll 23 L L F i I 28 B3 gjw WY Y BO 50 YJ TO WELIURING WELD 'HMED Cmun. OUT cmcun' v INVENTOR INDEXING POWER PULSECIRCUIT Y 35mm fi@ TO INITIATING SWITCH ATTORNEY United States Patent C)FLUID CYLINDER WITH CIRCUIT CLOSER Franklyn R. Neu, Carlstadt, N. I.,assignor to Standard Tool and Manufacturing Co., Kearny, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Application November 20, 1956, Serial No.623,396

14 Claims. (Cl. 20D-82) This invention relates to circuit closers and,more particularly, to such including contacts enclosed in a cylinder inwhich a piston is operated by iluid means.

In accordance with my invention, I include an electrical switch deviceor devices piston-operated in a cylinder, pneumatically orhydraulically. Its use is to provide a means for indicating that thepiston has completed its extension or retraction, or both, as the casemay be, by completing a circuit across two contacts lwith a contactring. Such information is very often necessary and has heretoforerequired the mounting of supplemental switch gear or devices on suchcylinders in such a manner as to convey the desired information.

An object of my invention is to provide contact means which projectthrough the head or rod end of a cylinder, or both ends thereof, inwhich is operated a piston, so as to show by suitable circuitsassociated with said contact means when the piston reaches one or bothends of its cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to provide on the reciprocating pistonin said cylinder, a contact ring which cooperates with said cylindercontact elements, which ring is resiliently held in operative positionand movable, not only upon engagement with the cylinder contactelements, but also by the huid which operates the piston in order toeect a quick breaking of the circuit.

A further object of my invention is to provide for mounting such acontact ring on the piston, so that during piston operation said ringrotates to thereby change lthe point of engagement between each cylindercontact element and said contact ring, to thereby prolong the life ofthe circuit breaker.

A still further object of my invention is to combine such a circuitcloser with other apparatus to effect improved operating results.

These and other objects and advantages will become 'apparent from theyfollowing detailed description when taken with the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood that the drawings are for purposes ofillustra- -tion and do not deine the scope or limits of the invention,reference being had for the latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts inthe several views: y f Figure 1 is an axial sectional View, with partsin elevation, of a piston-operated circuit closer embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view from the right of the circuit closerof Figure l.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view from the left of the circuit closerof Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of one .of the elements ofa rotating assembly of the piston.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary edge view of the rotating element of Figure 4.

ICC

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and rst considering Figures l to 5inclusive, there is shown an embodiment of my circuit closer 11,comprising a hollow cylindrical member 12 to which is secured forcompletion a head or blind end portion 13 and a rod end portion 14, asby means of longitudinally extending bolts 15 and associated nuts 16.Suitable packing means 17 (such as socalled Parker O rings) may beprovided between the hollow cylindrical portion 12 and the end portions13 and 14.

The head end portion 13 of the cylinder has mounting means 18 securedthereto as by suitable means, such as said bolts 15. Said mounting means18, in the present embodiment, is illustrated as an angle iron, theconnected ilange 19 of which is cut away, as indicated at 21, to avoidinterfering with the lower of two apertures 22 through said head endportion to receive stationary contact elements 23 providing componentsfor an electrical switch. These metal, desirably brass elements 23 aremounted in and insulated from the head end portion 13, as by eachpassing through and cooperating with insulating washers 20 to close theapertures 22. Each contact element 23 may have an inner enlarged orshouldered portion engaging its inner washer 20 and an outer nut 30which ts a threaded outer portion and may be tightened to hold the innerand outer washers in place over the apertures 22. One end of each, thatis, the desirably silver tipped inner end 24, comprises a contactsurface on the interior of the cylinder, and the other or outer end ofeach may carry lead wire securing nuts and provide a point at which anelectrical connection can be made on the exterior of the cylinder. Thehead end 13 of the cylinder is also provided with a port 25 for theadmission and exhaust of uid, such as compressed air or liquid.

The rod end 14 of the cylinder carries a preferably bronze bushing 26 inwhich the rod 27 of the contained piston 28 reciprocates. It also hasmounting means, such as the angle iron 29 secured to the rod end portionas by suitable means, such as the bolts 15, and similarly cut away, asindicated at 32, to avoid interfering with the application of contactelements 33, which if employed may be similar to those in the head end,designated 23, and similarly mounted. The rod end member 14 of thecylinder is also provided with a suitable port 34 for the admission andexhaust of operating tluid.

The piston 28 is, in the present embodiment, formed with an elongatedhub portion 35 secured to the inner end of the piston rod 27 as by meansof welding 36. There is desirably disposed a washer 37 between the rodend of this hub portion and the adjacent rod end portion 14 of thecylinder. Extending annularly from the central portion of the hub 35 isthe piston proper 38, having an outwardly opening peripheral groove 39which carries suitable packing means such as a Parker O ring. Mounted onone or both sides of the piston proper, and rotatable on the piston hubportion (or portions) is (or are) a contact ring assembly (orassemblies). Inasrnuch as these assemblies, if two as illustrated inFigure l, are identical, only one will be described.

Rotatably mounted on one or both end portions of the hub 35, in theillustrated embodiment, is a contact-assembly retaining ring 41,desirably formed of Bakelite or other suitable insulating material. Eachis formed generally double-L shape in axial section, as viewed in Figure1, that is, it has an outstanding peripheral tlange 42 which overlies anenclosed annular contact member 43. Each is retained on its part of thehub 35 by suitable means 10 disposed in illustrated grooves in the hub35 beyond the contact ring assemblies. These retaining means may beso-called Parker O rings. The contact members 43 are desirably formed ofPhosphor bronze or other durable metallic conductive material.Associated with each retaining ring 41, and encircling its contact ring43, is a contact support ring 44, desirably alsoformed of Bakelite orother suitable insulating material. Each contact support ring is formedwith a series of outwardly opening pockets 45, disposed between itsperipheral ange 46l and its interior bore 47 for holding the inner endsof contact-ring-retaining springs S2. These springs are desirably of thehelical compression type made from music wire. They act between theinner surface of the transverse wall of each contact support ring 44 andthe adjacent or inner surface of its annular contact ring 43, toresiliently urge or bias said contact ring against the flange 42 of thecontact retaining ring 41. Each contact support` ring 44 is tightlymounted on theV contact retaining ring 41, so as to rotate therewith onthe hub 35 of the piston 28.

The peripheral surface of the contact support ring 44 is provided with aseries of outwardly opening grooves or llutes 48, which extend generallydiagonally or helically along said surface, as shown most clearly inFigure 5. The circumferentially-spaced Walls of each ute are desirablydisposed normal to the tangent, and the inner wall defining the tinte isdesirably parallel to the tangent. The (or each) contact support ring 44is also desirably provided with at least a pair of radially extendingapertures 49, threaded to receive set screws 51 for holding said supportring in place and immovable with respect to the (or its) contactretaining ring 41.

By virtue of the before-disclosed construction, it will be seen thateach contact ring assembly is mounted on the hub of the piston in such amanner that it is captive longitudinally with respect to the piston, butfree to rotate about the axis thereof. In operation, reciprocation ofthe piston brings first one and then the other contact ring 43 (if twoare employed) in contact with the corresponding insulated feed-throughcontacts 23 and 33, at the final portions of the piston strokes. Thus, aclosed electrical path is provided that may indicate that the piston hascompleted its stroke, in one direction or the other.

As the piston starts its return stroke, several things occur. lf acompressible fluid is introduced into a switchcarrying end of thecylinder, a difference in pressure exists between the contact side andthe spring side of the contact ring 43, to move said ring within thecontact ring assembly against the pressure of the contact ring springs52. This relative movement of the contact ring with respect to thepiston provides a quick opening of the electrical contact that isindependent of, but complementary to, the piston speed. By virtue of theflutes or grooves 4S, the compressible fluid initially introduced intothe. switch carrying end of the cylinder, and flowing in or throughthese flutes, and on into the spring-enclosing cavity, exerts pressureon walls normal to the tangent and induces rotary motion in the contactring assembly on the hub of the piston, thereby exposing a differentarea of the contact ring 43 to the insulated feed-through contacts 23 or33, as the case may be, on each subsequent operation of the piston,which provides for longer contact life. In order to insure exhaust ofthe uid from the springenclosing cavity, in preparation for the aboveaction, as well as to provide the desired passages to facilitate suchaction and minimize friction against such turning, I slightly relieve,say less than .0l inch, the inner or piston-adjacent wall of eachcontact support ring 44, leaving an annular boss or hub portion 31 forengaging said piston. I also provide small apertures 4t), desirablyconcentric with the pockets 45, through said relieved wall.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawing, there is illustrated a machinefor welding opener keys to cans, comprising a supporting frame 53 onwhich is rotatably mounted a spider 54 intermittently'operated by meansof 56; The power means for this mechanism may be a Diehl type J powertransmitter. Mounted on the support 53, as on a suitable pedestal`57, isan upper welding electrode 58 operated by the piston rod 27 of an uppercylinder 11, constructed in accordance with my invention. inasmuch asthe specific mechanism between the piston rod 27 and the electrode 58 isnot part of the invention, it is not here described in detail. Itsuflices to say that it mayV involve a. rod 50, extending from thepiston rod 27 to the vertically reciprocable member which carries theelectrode 58, with its ends respectively pivotally connected to said rodand reciprocable member. The connecting rod 50 desirably has a roller 60pivotally mounted thereon and riding on a cam 70 supported on thepedestal 57. Thus retraction of the piston rod 27, causes downwardmovement of the electrode 58.

Similarly there is a lower cylinder 11, embodying my invention, andhaving a rod 27, which carries the lower electrode 59 which engages theunder surface of a can 61, while the upper electrode 58 engages a key 62positioned on the upper surface of said can and which is to be weldedthereto. The electrodes 58 and 59 have flexible power conveying leads 63and 64 respectively extending thereto.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a diagram of the wiring foreffecting operation of the mechanism of Figure 6. The upper cylinder 11and the lower cylinder 11 are connected, as illustrated, so that thehead end contact elements 23 of the lower cylinder 11 are in series withthe rod end contact members 33 of the upper cylinder 11, and both are inseries with the leads of the indexing circuit. The rod end contactelements 33 of the lower cylinder 11 are in series with the power pulsecircuit controlling solenoid 65, which in turn controls an air or uidvalve 66, desirably a four-way solenoid mementary-contact pilot-operatedValve of the Bellows Electroaire type.

Such valves are commercial and so needonly be briefly described. The onemajor part is a light-weight stainf less steel piston that travels in abronze cylinder block. This piston is engaged with and shifts ashear-typeV slide valve. In each end of the cylinder is a sealed controlunit which uses a small 8-Volt solenoid. When either one of the solenoidcontrol units is energized by a momentary electrical contact, thesolenoid plunger retracts just enough to open a small port in the endcap of the valve housing. This momentary opening permits suflcient airto escape to upset the normal air pressure balance within the valve.Thus the full force of the incoming'high-pressure air is directedagainst the opposite side of the valve piston, shifting the slide valveand restoring the normal air balance. The valve remains in that shiftedposition until the opposite solenoid control valve is momentarilyenergized by an electrical impulse, again upsetting the air pressurebalance and reversing the valve. Thus it is the air pressure that doesthe actual work of shifting the slide valve. The small solenoids actonly as triggers to release and direct high-pressure air against thevalve piston.

The valve 66 is connected by air lines 67 and 68 extending respectivelyto the rod end and the head end of the upper cylinder 11, so thatoperation of the valve 66 in turn e'ects corresponding operation ofthepiston 28 in the upper cylinder 11. The lower cylinder 11' is likewisecontrolled from a similar valve 69, butl having an air line 71 therefromto the head end of said cylinder, and an air line 72 to the rod endthereof. The solenoid 73 of the valve 69 is controlled from aninitiating switch (not shown), which is operated by a cam (not shown) onthe shaft 56 by a circuit through line 74. The solenoids 75 and 76 ofthe valves 69 and 66, respectively, are operated in parallel throughline 77 from the weld timed out circuit. Air is supplied to the valves66 and 69 in parallel from the main air line 78 through a filter 79,pressure regulator 81, and lubricator 82.

The operation of the key-to-can Welder with reference to the diagram ofFigure 7 is as follows. During indexing of one can at the weldingposition, the piston in the lower cylinder 11 is retracted (asillustrated) and the piston in the upper cylinder 11 is extended, (asillustrated in Figure 6), the machine having indexed a head with a can61 into the welding position illustrated in Figure 6. The initiatingswitch is closed momentarily by a cam on the shaft 56 and, immediatelythereafter the indexing unit is uncoupled from its power source. Thisclosure of the initiating switch energizes, through line 74, thesolenoid 73 of the valve 69 and permits the pilot air to move the mainvalve spool or piston so that the blind or head end of the lowercylinder 11 is under pressure and the rod end of said cylinder is opento exhaust.

The rod 27 of said lower cylinder 11 then extends and positions thelower tiectrode 59 on the bottom of the can 61. When said rod is fullyextended, the switch contacts 33 on said rod end are closed. Thisdirects a pulse of electrical energy to activate the solenoid 65 of thevalve 66 long enough to permit pilot air to move the` main valve spoolor piston so that the rod end of upper cylinder 11 is under pressure andthe blind or head end of said cylinder is open to exhaust. The piston 28in said upper cylinder 11 then retracts (to the position of Figure 7)and brings the upper electrode 58 into contact with the key 62, whichhas been placed on the can by another mechanism. The welding apparatusemployed may be a Raytheon Model l LS head adapted for the particularpurpose, with the upper cylinder 11 taking place of the conventionalfoot-operated pedal.

When the upper cylinder 11 is fully retracted, it bridges the contactelements 23 on its head end and res the weld timer through lines 83 and84. The weld timer consists of a means of controlling the amount of timethe welding transformer is energized after it receives the firingsignal, and the amount of time it is necessary to keep the electrode onthe work after the welding operation, in order that the welded joint maysolidify.

After this cooling period, a contact in the weld timer closes andenergizes the solenoids 75 and 76 of the valves 69 and 66, respectively,to reverse the main valve spools and cause the rod of the lower cylinder11 to retract and that of the upper cylinder 11 to extend. When thepistons in these cylinders have completed their strokes, the switchincluding contact elements 23 in the head end of the lower cylinder 11and the switch including contact elements 33 in the rod end of the uppercylinder 11 are closed, and -signal the indexing circuit that it canproceed to index another head, to carry a can and key into the weldingposition for a repetition of the operation.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be seen that I have not onlyprovided a uid cylinder with a circuit closer or closers, which not onlymay be used for indicating when the enclosed piston reaches the head orrod end of its stroke, that is, after traveling in one direction, in theother direction, or at the terminations of said travels in bothdirections, but which is combinable with other devices, such assolenoid-controlled air valves, for

l. A piston adapted for use in la circuit closerl comprising a pistonproper and a hub portion extending longitudinally therefrom, a contactring assembly rotatably journalled on said hub portion, said assemblyconsisting of a contact ring, an insulating support partially housingsaid ring and opening away from said piston proper,

6 and a plurality of compression springs biasing said ring outwardlyagainst said support.

2. A piston adapted for use in a circuit closer comprising a pistonproper, a hub portion extending longitudinally therefrom, and electricalcontact means journalled on said, hub portion and formed at itsperiphery with a series of outwardly opening flutes extending in agenerally diagonal manner therealong.

3. A piston adapted for use in a circuit closer comprising a pistonproper and a hub portion extending longitudinally therefrom, a contactring assembly journalled on said hub portion, said assembly consistingof a contact ring, an insulating support for said ring, an insulatingkeeper for said ring and with said support delning an annular pocketopening away from said piston proper, and a plurality of compressionsprings housed in said pocket and biasing said ring outwardly againstsaid keeper, the peripheral portion of said contact ring assembly beingformed with a series of outwardly opening grooves, said groovesextending diagonally along the peripheral surface of said assembly.

4. A circuit closer comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable in saidcylinder, `a hub for said piston, and a contact ring assembly comprisinga contact ring resiliently biased from and mounted for longitudinalmovement with respect to said piston, and insulating means partlyhousing said ring, while opening away from said piston.

5. A circuit closer comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable therein andhaving a hub, and electrical contact means journalled on said hub andformed at its periphery with a series of ouwardly opening utes extendingin a generally helical manner therealong.

6. A circuit closer comprising an elongated cylinder having opposed endports adapted for connection to intake and outlet conduits, a pistonslidable in said cylinder, a hub for said piston, electrical contactelements mounted in the end of said cylinder adjacent said hub, and acontact ring assembly comprising a contact ring resiliently biased fromand mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said piston, andinsulating means partly housing said ring, while opening away from saidpiston, and longitudinally immovable but carried by and free to rotateabout said piston hub, whereby upon the admission of compressed uid tothe cylinder, the fluid expands and pushes the contact ring toward thepiston against its bias to effect a quick breaking of engagement withthe electrical contact elements.

7. A circuit closer comprising a cylinder with electrical contacts inone end, a piston slidable therein and having a hub toward thecontact-containing end of the cylinder, and electrical Contact meansjournalled on said hub and formed at its periphery with a series ofoutwardly opening ilutes extending in `a generally helical mannertherealong, whereby upon the admission of compressed uid to thecylinder, said fluid acts in the flutes to effect a turning of thecontact means so that a diiferent area is exposed for the nextengagement with said contacts.

8. A circuit closer comprising an elongated cylinder having opposed endports adapted for connection to intake and outlet conduits, a pistonslidable in said cylinder, a rod for said piston, electrical contactelements mounted in an end of said cylinder, one end of each of whichcomprises a contact surface on the interior of the cylinder and theother end a point at which electrical connections can be made on theexterior of the cylinder, a contact ring assembly carried by saidpiston, said assembly consisting of a contact ring, an insulatingsupport for said ring, an insulating keeper for said ring and with saidsupport dening an annular pocket opening toward the adjacent end of saidcylinder, a plurality of compression springs housed in said pocket andpressing said ring outwardly against its keeper, means mounting saidring assembly with respect to said piston so that it is generallyimmovable longitudinally but free to rotate about said rod, theperipheral portion of said contact ring assembly beingformed as aiseriesl of outwardly opening flutes each defined by two walls normaltothe tangentv and one parallel to thev tangent. at theperiphery of saidcylinder, said utes extending in Va generallyhelical manner along theperipheral surface of said=y assembly whereby, upon the: admission ofcompressediluidto the cylinder, the fluid expands into the pocket andpushes the contact ring inward against the action of the springs toeifect a quick breaking of engagement with the electrical contactelements, and said uid acts in said flutes to effect a turning of thecontact ring assembly, so that a different area of said ring is exposedfor the next engagement with said contacts.

9. A circuit closer as dened in claim 8, in which the piston has anelongated hub extending both ways therefrom, one of said contact ringassemblies is carried on each of said hub extensions, and there is apair of electrical contact elements mounted in each end of the cylinderfor cooperation with the contact rings of said assemblies.

10. In combination, a pair of circuit closers as dened in claim 9, meansconnecting the contact elements in one end of one of said circuitclosers in series with the contact elements in one end of said othercircuit closer and an indexing circuit, means connecting the contactelements in the other end of the first-mentioned circuit closer inseries with a power pulse circuit for performing a desired operation,means connecting the other contact elements of the other circuit closerin series with a weld firing circuit for performing a desired weldingoperation, and fluid control valve means governed by a weld timed outcircuit and operatively connected to said circuit closers.

11,. A circuit closer comprising a cylinder with electrical contacts inone end, a piston slidable therein and having a hub toward thecontact-containing end of the cylinder, an electrical contact meansjournalled on said hub and formed at its periphery with means wherebyupon the admission of actuating fluid to the cylinder, said fluideffects a turning of the contact means so that a different area isexposed for the next engagement with saidcontacts.

12; A piston adapted for use in a circuit closer comprisin'g a pistonproper' and a hub portion extendinglongitudinally therefrom, a contactring assembly journalled on said hub portion, said assembly consistingofa contactring, anI insulating support for saidring, an insulating keeperfor said ring and With saidv support deiining an annular pocket openingaway from said piston proper, and a plurality of compression springshoused in; said pocket and biasingy said ring outwardly against saidkeeper.

13. The invention: as defined in claim l2', in-whichthere is a cylinder,the piston proper moves therein and has a hub portion which extends bothways therefrorn,.-a` contact ring assembly is carried ony each of saidhub extensions, Vand there is` apair of electrical contactV elementsmounted in each end of the cylinder for cooperationrwith the. contactrings of saidassemblies.

14. In combination, a pair of piston-enclosing cylinders as denedl inclaim 13, means connecting the contact elements in one end of oneof saidcylinders. in series with the contact elements in one end of said. othercylinder and an indexing circuit, means connecting the Contact elementsin the other end of the first-mentioned cylinder in series with apowerpulse circuit for performing a desired operation, means connecting theother contact elements of the other cylinder in series with a weldfiring circuit for performing a desired welding v operation, and fluidcontrol valve means. governed by a weld timed'out circuit andoperatively connected to said cylinders.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,340,663 `Papini May 18', 1920 1,421,774l Harder Julyf4`, 19221,507,741 Kirk et a1 Sept. 9; 1924 2,193,692 Jones Mar. 12, 19402,215,584 -HetheringtonV Sept. 24, 1940 2,401,991 yWaltonet al. June 11,1.946 2,517,136 Schneider Aug. 1, 1,950

FOREIGN PATENTS" 550,767 Great Britain Ian; 22, 1943

